APA Report Writing Mechanics

APA General Format Requirements--Check with your teacher or assignment details

Paper:

• White, 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches.

• Use one side only.

• Left alignment.

Header - Pagination:

• Running title (abbreviated title printed on all pages) in all capital letters; left alignment; header set a 1 inch

• Pagination automatic numbering, right alignment;

Title page:

• Running title and page number used (page 1)
• Centered. Title in upper third of page.

• Do not underline title, or put in quotation marks, or type it in all caps.

• Author byline--double spaced below title

• Brief summary of the research
• Located on page 2
• Double-spaced below centered title "Abstract"

Margins:

• One inch at top, bottom, and sides.

Indenting:

• Indent five spaces (or one inch for handwriting) for each new paragraph.

• Set-off long direct quotations (four or more lines) by indenting one inch (10 spaces) from the left margin.

• For reference list entries, indent all lines one half inch except the first line. Set your word processing program to do a hanging indention.

Text:

• Double space body text and reference list entries.

• Double space set-off quotations. Block quotations are usually introduced with a colon.

• Use standard 12 point fonts. Preferred font is Times New Roman.

• When ending a sentence, use two spaces before starting the next sentence.

Quoting:

• When quoting directly, use quotation marks with reference citation.

• Do not use quotation marks for set-off quotations.

• Use three spaced periods...when omitting anything within a quotation.

• Use brackets [ ] to enclose anything added or changed within a quotation.